Monday 20 January 2014

The Church of Our Lady of Light



Lets skip a bit back to Madras. After so recently sketching the Sao Sebastian Chapel in Panjim, I suddenly thought to myself that the Luz Church is literally one minute away from my office and I have never visited. So there I headed yesterday morning. It's the oldest surviving church structure in Madras and has 1516 proudly embossed over its main doorway.
Sunday mass was under way so I chose to sketch from outside. Once the mass was over I was soon surrounded by a gang of young girls. They were very eager and enthusiastic to watch me sketch and chattered away non-stop to each other. They spoke in Tamil, which of course, is my mother tongue and I could understand everything they said, including the fact that they assumed I didn't know Tamil.
Here's a few interesting snippets of conversation that I enjoyed: (everything was being said in Tamil)

"Hey, look! She's drawing with her left hand!"
"Yes, see. That is why that tree which is on the left of the church is coming on the right side of her drawing."
" Hey, do you think she will show us the rest of the sketches in her book? I really want to see the rest of the sketches. You ask her. My english is not good."
" No! You ask Her. Pleeeaaase"
Giggling... pause...
"Ok. We'll ask her together. We will all say - (in english and in hushed practice whispers) Excuse me, can you show us your sketchbook"
"Ok fine. At the count of 3 - all together! One, two three!"
Dramatic silent pause.
A giggling collapse.
"Fraud! Cheee! Hey look! Look at her grey hair. She is old! We had better say excuse me aunty!"

Call me mean... but I didn't let on that I knew Tamil just so that they would go on being candid and I could keep listening in!

10 comments:

  1. Wonderful Kalpana, interesting to read the content and the mass attending mob came to the church was really ineresting. Its like reading a short story. Your drawing is unique as usual. Great.

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  2. Venu and Alok, thanks so much for visiting and for your lovely comments!

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  3. Ha ha ha!
    I am glad I visited this post.

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  4. Kalpana

    just saw this...this is hilarious......methinks you have other hidden talents that can be showcased.....short funny stories translated from Tamil to English ( how is that for a niche??).......Cheers....Vijay

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  5. Haha thanks Vijay. That's something to think about!!

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  6. You're a great writer. Delighted to have discovered you.

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  7. Thank you Róisín for visiting and commenting! I absolutely love your work too!

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